Wikipedia Blackout: A Playlist

Today, Wikipedia goes black to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). What does the online encyclopedia’s absence mean for you? Nothing, unless you’re writing a book report, or a book, or deciphering the news, or trying to sound smart in an e-mail, or just killing time. Without Wikipedia to help make life comprehensible, you may want to check out this playlist of songs about reference and reference books.

1. Love Live Life + One, “Facts About It All” (1971)

This song is sung (sort of) in English (sort of) by the legendary, heavy-psychedelic Japanese band. It’s powerful, chaotic, and indecipherable.

2. Rhett and Link, “Encyclopedia Rap” (2007)

A tribute to the encyclopedia by the comedy/TV stars. Possibly the most specific song ever written on the topic.

3. XTC, “Your Dictionary” (1999)

What if each person possessed their own language? Communication would be almost impossible. For example, I might say, “I hope you’re having a good week,” and you might hear something else entirely, like “It’s better for me if you just disappear from the face of the earth.” As XTC argues, this would make for a tremendous amount of pain and confusion.

4. Jonathan Butler, “Factual” (2010)

If you’re looking for smooth jazz-soul about verifiable states and events, you’ve come to the right place.

5. Papa Wemba, “Reference” (1994)

This lovely, lilting song by the king of soukous isn’t really about reference books. Or is it? I could probably look it up on…wait…never mind.

Sign up to get the best of The New Yorker delivered to your inbox every day